The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from John 16:23-33
Easter V
1. In vss. 23-28 Jesus speaks primarily of Pentecost, the
Spirit's guidance in the book of Acts and the giving of the
New Testament. That's what He means by "in that day" (vss. 23
and 26). He ends this with vs. 28: The divine Jesus came from
the Father and entered the world as a true man, suffered,
died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven. In vss.
29-30, though the disciples believe, they are mistaken in
thinking what Jesus promised in vss. 23-28 has already taken
place. And so, in vss. 31-33 He both warns and comforts them.
He warns them about what they are on the verge of doing in
Gethsemane (Mt. 26:31). In vs. 32 He is saying that they
would run but He would not run. He ends in vs. 33 with words
of wonderful comfort.
2. In vss. 23 and 26 the original Greek uses two distinctly
different words for "ask" or "request". Context decides the
meaning of words. In vs. 23a the word for "ask" means "ask
questions of doctrine" but in 23b the word for "ask" means to
make requests for spiritual and physical gifts in the name of
Jesus. In 23a Jesus means that there will be no further
revelation after the NT has been written. (The gift of
languages was not for further revelation but for preaching
the Gospel.) When we have a question about what God says we
simply go to the Bible and search for the answer. But when we
have particular spiritual or physical needs then we should
request in Jesus' name. Jesus makes an emphatic point of this
in 23b, 24 and 26a.
3. As mentioned under number 2 above, two different verbs are
used in vss. 23 and 26. The verb used in 23a is used again in
26b and the one used in 23b is used in 26a. The verbs used in
23b and 26a have the same meaning, making a request for
particular spiritual or physical needs. But verbs in 23a and
26b, though the same, have different meanings. In 26b it
means a request of an equal to an equal. Jesus says He will
not request the Father about the disciples. He explains
immediately in vs. 27. Because of the disciples' love for,
and faith in, Jesus they are very close to the Father and
stand in His presence. For example, when we pray the Lord's
prayer we say: "Our Father" without adding Jesus' name. We
can now approach our heavenly Father just as children
approach their earthly fathers without fear and trembling.
Jesus is not denying, but further affirming, that He is our
Mediator between God and man. See I Tim. 2:5. To summarize:
vs. 23a says that with the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts
and the remainder of the NT we need ask no more questions or
seek further revelation. It's all in the Scriptures. But in
23b, 24 and 26a Jesus is strongly urging us to bring all our
requests, spiritual and physical to Him because of the
completed work of redemption in vs. 28. Vs. 26b is a firm
assurance of our oneness with the Father through Jesus.
4. In vss. 29-30 the disciples mistakenly think that Jesus
has now fulfilled all. But they mention only "that You have
come forth from God." They do not mention that He was about
to leave the world and return to the Father. They believe,
but in their enthusiasm they omit Jesus' suffering, death,
resurrection and ascension and also the coming of the Spirit
on Pentecost and the giving of the NT. Jesus gently asks them
in vs. 31: "Do you believe now?" Their belief is mixed with
emotional enthusiasm. Then in vs. 32 He tells them the awful
truth about their deserting Him in Gethsemane, Gabbatha
(before Pilate) and Golgatha (on the cross). They will prove
to be faithless but He will remain faithful. He says that He
is not alone but that the Father is with Him. And then in vs.
33 He speaks very comforting words. He has spoken to them so
that they have the peace of God mentioned in Rom. 5:1 and
8:16ff. In this life they will have affliction. But remember
Jesus has overcome the world. I Jn. 5:4; Rom. 8:37. We are
often like the disciples need to listen to His warnings and
comfort.
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from John 16:23-33
Easter V
THEME: Jesus' Compassionate Help For the Immature In the
Faith
INTRODUCTION
On Thursday evening, just before He suffered and died, Jesus
celebrated the Lord's Supper with the disciples and spoke His
last words to them as a group, Jn. 13-16. Our text is the
final section of what He said to them. The disciples seemed
confident but they were still immature. But Jesus does not
cast them aside. After this section follows Jesus' prayer to
the Father, Jn. 17, but His word to the disciples have come
to an end.
I. THE DISCIPLES' IMMATURITY AND PROOF THEREOF
A. _The Disciples' Immaturity._ During the three
years of Jesus' ministry the disciple showed
their immaturity again and again. For example,
when He fed the 5000 He presented the problem to
them but they were at a loss as to what to do.
In the synoptic Gospels (Mt., Mk. and Lk.) Jesus
announced His betrayal, suffering, death,
resurrection and ascension three times (Mt.
16:21; 17:22; 20:18) but it only grieved the
disciples. On this Thursday evening the
disciples asked immature question: See 13:36;
14:5; 14:8. And at the end of this discourse in
their immaturity the disciples think that what
Jesus had just prophesied about the time, when
they would have fuller knowledge, had already
come. Read vss. 29-30. They seemed very
confident. But Jesus criticizes. He asks: "Do
you now believe?" And then in vs. 32 He warns
them of their immaturity.
B. _The Proof Of Their Immaturity._ What Jesus
said in vs. 32 happened exactly as He had
predicted. Because of their lack of faith they
abandoned Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. They
failed to attend His trial. Except for John they
did not go to Calvary. And on Saturday and
Sunday they locked themselves into their room.
They proved their lack of faith and immaturity.
II. JESUS' COMPASSIONATE HELP FOR THESE DISCIPLES
A. _Jesus' immediate help._ Read vs. 33. Only a
few hours later, in the Garden, the disciples
ran from the Jewish authorities and the Roman
soldiers. They were in tribulation. Though they
did not realize it, the peace of God went with
them. What is this peace? First read Rom. 5:1.
Because we are justified by faith in Jesus, God
is not angry with us. They _thought_ God was
angry but He was not. This peace of God guarded
their minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. Php.
4:7. It was the peace of God, not of the world.
Jn. 14:27. And, though they were about to desert
Him, He says: "Be of good courage, I have
overcome the world." Read I Jn. 5:4. Our flesh
and the world overcome us. But He has overcome
the world.
B. _What He promises them in the future._ We are
at an advantage over the disciples during Jesus'
lifetime. We still live in the Pentecost, in the
time that has the whole Word of God in the
Bible, in the time of the great Reformation of
the Church. All of this Jesus promises in vss.
23-28:
1. _The time will come_ when they will ask no
questions of doctrine. What does He mean?
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit Who gave us the
Holy Scriptures. They lead us in all truth. We
do not and should not ask for further
revelation because the Triune God has given us
the whole Truth in the New Testament which is
the fulfillment of the Truth.
2. _The time will come_ when they can bring
any spiritual or physical need to Jesus and He
assures us that He will answer. That's what He
means in vss. 23b, 24 and 26a. In fact, Jesus'
Mediatorship is so complete that we can now go
directly to the Father. We are the Father's
dear children in Christ Jesus. That's what
Jesus means in vss. 26 and 27. As Luther says:
"We can come to our Heavenly Father as earthly
children approach their earthly father." Read
Heb. 10:19-22.
CONCLUSION
Don't wish yourself back to the days of the disciples. Do
enjoy what the Triune God has done for you!
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project
Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain
by permission of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy
or print this text.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
at Concordia Theological Seminary
E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (260) 452-2123 Fax: (260) 452-2126
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